1990 Mercedes W124 Squeaky Blower Motor Fix (Red W124 Project)

This video is about 1990 Mercedes W124 Squeaky Blower Motor Fix (Red W124 Project)

[@MMWA-DAVE]

just an update on this job - its not a one time fix, it buys you more time and needs to be done regularly. I am about to replace this fan motor now as its once again squeaking and seizing up.

[@kjtan9913]

The 3 in 1 doesn't last for fan bushings. I think the heat built up causing the oils to dry up. In my experience, white lithium lasts twice as long but still seizes. High temp grease works well for long time but the viscosity is not ideal. Thin (hot rating 30 or below) fully synthetic engine oil works best and last the longest.

[@owenevans2511]

Thank you for this video. It gave me the confidence to try the same repair. Cheers

[@ryanmundt9628]

Greetings from Japan! I’m in desperate need of a change or grease job on mine. Thanks for the great tutorial

[@abuhamza1970]

Mate, this video is exactly what I was looking for. Thankyou so much for sharing, I am truly grateful.

[@rfbu]

Glad to hear your blower is working

[@darens1926]

Interesting to see which cars have no cabin filter. Mine has none. This is a satisfying job because you can get in there and clean! I replaced mine outright. The one I pulled was not original MB. I put a budget one in for now. Great videos !

[@190E_2.6]

An excellent and very informative video. Glad it’s for a right-hand drive vehicle as I have a 190E 2.6 and it’s very similar. Now, trying to get a hold of the blower motor which is currently out of stock 😢 and the cold weather doesn’t help either.

[@123456freakout]

I searched for so many videos what that squeaking could be in my car. Now i think i found the right video. I am not a car person, but i think i can handle this. First time ever i will do anything on a car, lets hope i dont break things apart.

[@MMWA-DAVE]

If this is a regular driven car and you will keep it for a long time - I would buy a new fan. Lubricating only extends the life upto a year or so before squeaks start again. It is not a permanent fix. I since replaced this fan as it started again.

[@daiarjy2429]

from Iraq Thank you very much

[@artoor4ik777]

thanks, respect and like from Lithuania, very informative video! will do this on mine as well

[@nizamaris7896]

Just opened my ac blower motor it's jammed but after spraying wd-40 it's running smoothly 💕 thanks for the video it's helpful 👍👍👍👍

[@wolfgottlieb7737]

Well done !

[@tm199100]

I have done this job a couple of times, once for the wiper motor and another for blower cleaning and lubing (just like in this case, same exact squeak!). Still watched the video because its great content as usual!

[@MMWA-DAVE]

Tomás Alecrim I forgot to mention in the video - i have already serviced this wiper assy. I stripped it down cleaned it and lubiricated the internals with thick waterproof grease for automatic garage doors. I did this before the car was even painted. I also crushed my finger in the process of bench testing it, these things are very dangerous to fingers and you must be careful how you hold it. I almost had to destroy it to release my trapped finger. It was a nightmare.

[@tm199100]

@@MMWA-DAVE I totally get what you mean. That is why I "bench" test them in the car. Connect the plug and tight a couple of nuts. Then you need to go into the actual car and test it.. so.. it's far from your fingers..

[@tm199100]

@@MMWA-DAVE and btw, thank you for your video on the power steering pump reseal. It will be my next fix on this car and hopefully the last. I love my w124, but I do not use it as much as it needs to be used. These cars need to be used, otherwise the age starts taking it's toll on them

[@MMWA-DAVE]

@@tm199100 with the ps pump pay special attention to the way the vane pump section is assembled, it is possible to assemble it incorrectly and the pump will do nothing. I made this mistake on the red project's pump. Fortunately its an easy fix. I made an update video showing the possible mistake.

[@oglaz]

Me next diy job. Exellelentlly explained 👌. Mint.

[@FordMercGuy]

Great work man, my old w124 1995 e280 had the fan/blower fuse heating up and melted the fuse holder ends in the fuse box with fjay typical "sunken" look, sometimes contact between the ends of the fuse holder and fuse would happen and fan would lose operation. My mechanic that knows these cars had said the blower motor drawing too much power from lack of lubrication would be the culprit. This is an awesome fan service video amigo! Will help many out! Good preventive service to do!

[@MMWA-DAVE]

The BA Falcon W124 Guy the later fuse box design is notorious for this - its either a cost cutting issue or a supplier change or both. The early horizontal fuse layout rarely has the issue. MB did have an official strip fuse and holder to rectify this issue on late model cars. If interested i can find the part number and hell maybe even make a video

[@FordMercGuy]

@@MMWA-DAVE yeah amigo, I think it would definitely get views and help many into the future

[@ognjengalic4971]

​@@MMWA-DAVE Mercedes-Benz acknowledged this issue officially with the blower fuse melting. Mercedes-Benz issued a kit that included a external fuse holder, the wiring harness and a 30A stripe fuse. Also, the fuse diagram has been updated, and in the footer of the diagram it says: "Fuse blower motor outside fuse box" and the nr. 12 fuse (that melts) is blank in the diagram. Mercedes-Benz part nr. 1265403013, 1245451300, 1245455340, 0005400869 Please update this on your cars, else the fuse melts through the fuse box and contacts the fuse below, starting a fire.

[@MMWA-DAVE]

Ognjen Galić i already knew this - however we have never seen this happen on the early style fuse box like mine. I as always will continue keeping an eye on such things anyway.

[@aboodmki3]

Even for left-hand drive W124s it is not required to detach the wiper arm from the motor before removal, i did mine the same way as yours ✅

[@MMWA-DAVE]

FYI - I am aware that I look unhealthily skinny - unbeknown to me, I actually lost 4kg I couldnt afford to unintentially because of workplace stresses and not eating properly. Don't worry this is being addressed even more so now that this video has slapped me in the face. Everything is OK.

[@niguseenyew1667]

Thank you so much!!!

[@MMWA-DAVE]

ahhh, just an update on this, its not a permanent fix it just buys you more time. I am about to install a brand new one as this one is seizing again,

[@SteffenEhrig]

Thanks alot.

[@johnhopkins6260]

Excellent Video!! many thanks (as opposed to several other videos with useless, random preambles of a talking head).... too the point, done! Thank you.

[@MMWA-DAVE]

Thanks, i don’t waffle on in daily life and am to the point with most things. I also don’t like people wasting my time with nonsense.

[@ka130258]

I recall you saying that doing the W124 hobby was one of the best things you have done for your health mm! I did the same on mine re a squeak, simpyl oiled the bearings and been good for years now

[@MMWA-DAVE]

Good to know. I noticed the motor is available without the fans on the shafts. Not sure how well removal would go when my shafts are all rusted up, I would probably have to source the complete motor with blades.

[@ka130258]

@@MMWA-DAVE Yep, I watched a KZbin clip I recall, taking the blades off will almost certainly lead to full replacement. Apparently VERY brittle

[@21stcenturyozman20]

On my (long gone) ’88 (?) 124 300E the wiper centre gear (that turns the rotary motion to oscillating) stripped out its centre teeth. Always the DIYer (sometimes successful LOL) I tried to rebuilt it with good used gears. After three days I conceded defeat. I’d completely fornicated it. *On noisy blower motors* … the fan in my SEC had the tiniest squeak on low speed, and a much more annoying flap of inhaled foliage catching the fan blades. I resolved to address those issues once I’d removed the dash for the resto-mod. (The unit stands vertically under the dash behind the passenger knee pad, not outside the cabin like the 124.) Once removed, I found the entire motor and the lower half of the fan completely submerged in fine sand. Oh *faeces!* Stupid here had the engine bay, boot, and sills sandblasted early in the project! D’oh! (Dash was the only thing still on the car; it was otherwise a stripped shell.) No amount of encouragement would stop the new, third noise: *a horrid sandy grinding in the bearings.* My dentures ground themselves in sympathy! After fruitlessly raiding my local MB boneyard for every available 126 fan unit I bit the bullet and ordered a new one from Niemöller for AU$800+. Being for RHD, it took a while to locate one, even in Germany, but they got it for me eventually. It’s *not* going in until I remove every last grain of that bloody sand! (Ditto the whole cabin interior.) It’s everywhere throughout the car, and I’ve filled half a dozen vacuum-cleaner bags, overheated my compressor (lots of sucking and blowing going on!) and the next time I look more of the stuff has materialised from the gods know what nooks and crannies. I’ll never sandblast another car! LOL *TIP: For applying liquid lube* (light oil, ATF on throttle linkages … and other hard-to-access parts), I use a syringe with a curved nozzle (thanks, Kent Bergsma, for the tip). Makes life easier and less messy.

[@MMWA-DAVE]

21stCentury Ozman with the 126 blower motors i have noticed a failure mode on those that is basically unrepairable. Because the motor is sitting in the vertical orientation with the weight of the blade continuously on the motor, the bearings eventually collapse and the whole rotor and shaft slide down. The noise is horrific and ive not worked out a way of repairing that. I have one sitting in my junk pile with such an issue. I have got a left hand drive one too, from memory you can convert it to rhd but will also need to reverse the polarity. My memory may be hazy on this subject as it was years ago.

[@21stcenturyozman20]

@@MMWA-DAVE The main difference I could see between the LHD and RHD versions was the reversal (mirror image) of the output chute the fed into the central ventilation channels and controls. I didn't observe any other differences, though you may be right on the polarity reversal - assuming the fan blades themselves are universal rather than handed.

[@MMWA-DAVE]

21stCentury Ozman now i cant find the lhd motor so i cant compare. The failed rhd one has the top bearing lose in its mount. One could probably jbweld it back in there to never move again. I guess i could try it its only going in the bin otherwise.

[@21stcenturyozman20]

@@MMWA-DAVE Nothing ventured, nothing gained (or learned). Good luck with it!

[@darens1926]

Sandblast THEN replace headliner. That’s TONS of fun as the sand rains down 😂

[@MMWA-DAVE]

I had a thought. I shall measure the current draw of the blower motor on both cars and compare. I think 40A is out of spec but it was in free air, it’s possible it will draw less with the lessened load by way of restricted airflow when mounted inside its housing. I will do some tests and see what I discover.

[@MMWA-DAVE]

Confirmed. With fan in housing, draw is 22-23A in position 4

[@yvesalepin3486]

I did this in the past on a W201. I did not removed the blower motor. I used a bearing grease that was in a spray bottle. Now I have a 1995 E320 cabriolet. The blower motor just started to do the noise. My question is did you tried to spay the bushings without removing the blower or it is an impossible task?

[@MMWA-DAVE]

The thread: www.benzworld.org/threads/diy-blower-motor-bearing-lube-and-cabin-filter-replacement-94-95-sedan.1633463/

[@komoru]

What is the power supply (black box) that you use to test the blower motor outside of the vehicle? Looks like it would be a very handy device to test lots of components!

[@MMWA-DAVE]

I found them still available: www.ebay.com.au/itm/152518907506

[@costaromani6873]

Yes

[@tomzouzoulas3169]

Excellent video! Novice here. I tried the following and hooked up alligator clips to a 12 volt battery, motor started spinning after slight lubrications and cleaning and started smoking, then I removed alligator clips. Is 12 volts too much?

[@MMWA-DAVE]

When the fan motor is out of its housing in free air it has access to an unlimited amount of air - counterintuitively the fan motor draws more than double its rated current because of this. When in free air you shouldn’t provide straight 12v or at-least not for long.

[@rahulsoni6652]

Suggestion, if possible, wouldn't it be a better idea when replacing the fan, to replace the fan housing aswell to the later w124 with a cabin filter? I'm pretty sure it would work out better for you since you won't have dust getting in on the dash from the vents and rubbish eventually clogging the evaporator and I'm pretty sure if i Remember correctly, the filter also prevents dust and junk from getting to the motor... ie the filter is placed before the motor as in my friend's 124 96 e320 sedan.

[@MMWA-DAVE]

the later design is better - i'm under the impression the fan blades are smaller on the cabin filter type so the whole housing is probably different too. Late w124's are quite rare here and rarely are available for parting out in my state so it probably would be extremely difficult to get the bits required.

[@rahulsoni6652]

@@MMWA-DAVE ah I see, would be a good idea though if you find one to salvage the fan housing that takes a filter and keep it ready for when it's time to replace the fan. Can't wait to see the drive along on Red👍🏻

[@alfaemme1]

👍👍👍

[@rboeken6376]

i did this on my r129, I cleaned the black (now white or beige) fans itself as well and had to replace the regulator as it only worked on speeds 1 and 2 but not 3 and full power. Also removed 24 years of leaves and other debris, did discover that my evaporator is leaking and will need to replace the dashboard to get to it, not looking forward to that job

[@bobludkin]

You are lucky you don’t own an earlier uk RHD with Air Con . The fan motor and housing was put in from inside the car with the dash out, to get to the motor you either take the dash apart or us a dremel and cutting disk and cut a flap in the plastic housing , no neat 8 clips for us

[@MMWA-DAVE]

Wow, id be interested to see pictures of this setup

[@johnhopkins6260]

Common "dead spot" on fan commutators. (lubrication of bearings reduces current draw)

[@Ratzepuh]

New blowers ars still available in Germany. Just got mine installed in my 1992 W124.

[@stevenkerr1455]

Link?

[@Ratzepuh]

@@stevenkerr1455 can't post a link here. Do you have a mail address?

[@Ratzepuh]

@@stevenkerr1455 or just google for 'W124 Gebläsemotor' But watch out! There were 2 different versions originally installed.

[@ka130258]

called the commutator segments mm

[@MMWA-DAVE]

truth be told - I had a very potent and large alcoholic beverage after the job and was slightly drunk when i voiced this over. Ordinarlily I take slightly better care and find out the propper names of things. I think there were 2 instances in this video i wasnt sure of the name of something and just went with it.

[@micheledirocco4994]

I'm hearing a noise in my 1992 W124, like something small and hard vibrating or slamming just behind the dashboard's central vent. That happens mostly on bumpy roads. Could it be the blower motor? Any suggestions?

[@MMWA-DAVE]

This I wouldnt know myself without further investigation. One would hope its not an issue inside the hvac box itself as thats a total nightmare to strip down

[@micheledirocco4994]

@@MMWA-DAVE I really hope it's not the HVAC box, only thing I know for now is that I hear the noise coming from the top of the dashboard. I'll start from blower motor since I have to disassemble and lubricate wiper system and I hope there's something moving there

[@micheledirocco4994]

@@MMWA-DAVE anyway thank you for replying to me, and thank you for your videos, I'm trying to restore this old lady by myself and you have been a big help so far

[@igorsajkovic]

How long does the lubing hold? Surely it will start again to creak.

[@MMWA-DAVE]

indeed it will, depends how often its used and what oil was used. So far mine is still ok but its not used often. The only permanent fix will be a new motor.

[@igorsajkovic]

Ok, thanks.

[@nehuge]

Are the washer squirters supposed to be a fan shaped mist (like a lot of other cars), or the squirts that the video has like its urinating? It's a serious question despite the funny analogy.

[@MMWA-DAVE]

David C these nozzles are brand new genuine mb so this is how it is. Though I have not aimed them yet.

[@nehuge]

@@MMWA-DAVE good to know that brand new act like that. Because again it looks like a urine stream and not a fanned mist. I always thought that mine being in a urine stream was due to them being clogged and not a fine mist. Looks like Mercedes didn't use a mist

[@MMWA-DAVE]

David C in my area our mains water is pumped (and treated) straight out the ground. Everything gets coated and blocked with calcium deposits. My hot water tank i just disposed of was very thickly coated on the inside with it after 10 years. We don’t have freezing conditions here so mostly these windscreen washer tanks are filled with tap water. I am going to make the effort to use distilled water and additive in future. Guaranteed they will get blocked here otherwise.

[@daiarjy2429]

Welcome Can I use R134 gas instead of R12?

[@MMWA-DAVE]

its what is done by the professionals. However its often the case that they always wire up the aux fans to run full time with with the a compressor. Low speed is fine.

[@tomastomas4437]

Can someone answer me this model has no cabinfiler or filter is somewhere else?

[@MMWA-DAVE]

early cars like mine with no cabin filter have no filtration at all. The evaporator coil for the AC gets very filthy after all these years, leaves and mulch can end up resting against it.

[@SuperBackhere]

I thought this would be really difficult job like replacing evaporator core replacement. You might remember that video, an asian man removing most of the interior for replacing evaporator core of w124. Even though you did remove all those parts before it feels like a nightmare to remove all of the interior to replace just a simple part.

[@MMWA-DAVE]

Bekir Karakulak i know the exact asian man video you talk of, i commented on it and offered praise and said he was welcome to come do it for me ;) I hate air boxes, the w116 airbox rebuid was one of the reasons i lost interest in those cars, especially after all that work and it failed again 3 months later (jamming air flaps)

[@SuperBackhere]

@@MMWA-DAVE I saw your comment on that video by coincidence :D

[@MMWA-DAVE]

Bekir Karakulak the w124 world is a small one and getting smaller every day 😄

[@TOONACEDRELA]

L a La Lah... la la la la la lahhh! Well I've done it and it's not that bad. I wasn't as fast as that guy....he needs to go easy on the 'Speed'......You just have to be careful and methodical....bag the pieces and mark etc. It allowed me to remove most of the dreadful aftermarket alarm mess. As well, you don't have to remove the steering wheel. Well, at least, not on RHD models.

[@user-us5bo6zs9e]

Gde stoji filter klime

[@vmlelectronics]

Mine's has died today... 😩

[@Johnathan_Waters]

For this kind of bearing/motor application, you really should use a lubricant that contains no solids... ie: Sewing machine oil. I use one made by Singer "All Purpose Sewing Machine Oil", and it is just like butter. 3in1 oil does NOT meet this criteria... at least IMO.

[@raitshots]

Old coal defect